by Smith, I. J
Frank joined Jack and Bray to look towards the MI6 building. “We have no chance of getting to that building in one piece,” Bray spoke out.
Jack looked around the street. “Well, we can’t stay here all day,” Jack, told them. The building next to them was an empty shop that was having construction when the outbreak happened. Frank led the group inside the empty shop, Jack was last to enter he forced the door shut behind him. A child screamed out, Jack ran over to the child. Looking around Jack could see a decomposing body on the floor; it was completely dead the skull had been completely crushed. The child was comforted by Clare, Jack looked over the body on the ground, whoever it was had tried to fight off the zombies that attacked.
In the rotting corpse’s hand, a machete was still grasped, Jack leaned down and pulled the machete free. “I promise to kill a few of those dead bastards with this,” he whispered.
Jack held the machete by its black handle dried blood stained the blade. Jack stood up sliding the machete behind his belt to hold it in place an. An argument broke out. “We have to run,” “We cannot just give up,” “its suicide,” voices argued.
Frank was calling for calm, Elle tried to speak to everyone, but no one listened. “SHUT UP!” Jack shouted. The room went silent, everyone looked to Jack.
“Standing here arguing amongst ourselves will not make the situation any better,” Jack told them all
. Zoe stepped forward, “Well, what do you suggest?” she asked sarcastically.
“There is only one option, we have to get inside that building to stand any chance of getting out of this hell,” he replied.
Ryan spoke out, “Maybe we should just ask them to let us through, and “he laughed.
Jack looked annoyed, “Actually, we’re going to make a path through them,” Jack spoke out.
Everyone looked at Jack like he was insane, Frank moved towards Jack, “What do you suggest?” he asked.
“Four of us create a diversion, giving the rest time to make it inside the building,” Jack replied.
Frank was lost for words, Elle spoke instead, “its suicide.”
“We don’t have any other choice,” Jack told her.
Jack continued to speak, “Four of us will create a diversion and get their attention leading them away from the building, the others will go round the other side of this building and approach the building from behind the zombies, move quickly enough and we can make it,”
“All except the poor bastards creating the diversion,” Ryan spoke out.
“You really think four people are going to volunteer,” Zoe told Jack.
“Only three, I’m already in,” Jack told everyone. Elle looked as if someone had punched her in the stomach, she could not believe Jack was volunteering. Zoe looked shocked but impressed.
“Count me in,” Bray told everyone. Jack tipped his head in response to Bray.
Zoe looked to Bray, she started to think maybe she had these people wrong. “Me too,” Zoe added. Bray smiled at her.
Elle started to move forward, Frank noticed her moving to volunteer and spoke out, “and I make four,” Elle looked at him.
“OK, we need to get this done, now,” Jack told everyone, he continued to talk, “The rest of you, get ready to move to the other side of the building.”
Frank needed to speak to Elle, “You’re in charge now, you know the codes for the door?” he asked. “Yes, good luck,” she replied sadly as she gave him a hug.
“You should talk to Jack, before you go,” Frank told her, he was very aware of the attraction between them.
She smiled and walked away towards Jack. “Don’t suppose I can talk you out of it,” she said while trying to smile at him. “Promise me you will make it,” she asked him. Her eyes began to fill with tears, “Why you, why does it always have to be you?” she asked him. Jack moved closer to her and took her hand, not caring about anyone seeing his affection for Elle.
“I simply don’t trust anyone else to do what needs to be done,” he replied. Elle did not answer instead she hugged him while holding back her tears. Elle let him go and started to walk away, Jack watched as she started to lead everyone out of the building, she hugged Bray on her way out. Jack did not take his eyes off her. In moments only the four of them remained.
Jack removed his survival vest and took off his jacket; he was down to his black T-shirt and put his vest back on. He checked his sidearm and made sure his machete was easy to get too. He looked to the others who were also preparing. He approached Zoe, “Good to have you with us,” Jack told her.
Zoe gave a half-hearted smile, “Well, I always did stupid things, no point changing now,” she replied with a smile.
Bray and Frank approached them, “It’s an honor to stand with you all,” Frank told them all.
“Shut up, I don’t plan on dying tonight,” Bray replied.
“Yeah, all we got to do is distract a Zombie army long enough for the others to run to safety. “Zoe added. “Just another Friday night then…” Jack added they all broke out in laughter.
“Come on, let’s get this over with,” Bray spoke out.
They all left the empty building; they walked to the end of the street and looked over to the Zombie army. The groaning noise and banging against the MI6 building was echoing all around them. “How are we planning to get their attention?” Frank asked. Jack turned and smiled in reply.
Jack walked out closer towards the zombies, Frank, Bray and Zoe was shocked with what happened next. Jack started singing, “I’VE GOT A LOVELY BUNCH COCONUTS, DIDDLY DEE DEE….” Jack sang loudly. It worked the zombies started to turn towards him.
“He’s nuts,” Zoe told the others.
“Yeah, don’t you just love him,” Bray said, smiling, as he walked to join Jack.
“Go out with a song,” Frank added and walked to join Jack. Zoe stood there looking at the crazy people in front of her and she laughed and joined them. The zombies got closer and Jack stopped singing, instead of pulling out his sidearm he pulled out his machete instead, “Time to dance boys and girl,” he shouted out as he swung his machete at the nearest Zombie, Jack swung with so much strength the machete when clean though its skull, cutting its head in half.
“COME ON!” Zoe screamed, while using the side arm given to her by Bray. She was shooting the gun and hitting her targets, but even with almost every bullet taking down a corpse, there were plenty to take its place. Bray and Frank still used their main guns, but everything they did more kept coming. Jack was swinging the machete around, holding his sidearm in his free hand.
“BACK UP, BACK UP,” Jack shouted out. The team started to move backwards, the plan was working the Zombie army followed them. Eventually the zombies gave enough distance from doors and it gave a chance for the others to make a run for the MI6 building.
“GO, NOW” Frank shouted to Elle who was waiting on the other side with the rest of the group.
Elle raised her gun and started moving as fast as she could towards the building, she made it to the side door of the building, Elle looked at the lock it was a keypad. Ryan was pushing his way to the front of everyone else, “Oh my god, you’ve killed us all, there is no power so the lock cannot work,” he bellowed out.
Elle gave him a pissed off look, “Shut up!” she told him.
Elle started to punch the code in the door, 183467 she pressed. The door clicked and the lock was released, she looked to Ryan, “Independent power supply,” she remarked. Ryan rushed passed Elle to make sure he was the first one to safety; the group could not believe him. Henry grabbed the door, “You go ahead, I will make sure everyone gets in,” he told Elle, she responded with a warm smile. Henry glanced over to the Zombie army, he watched as the four brave volunteers were fighting for their lives. Henry watched them and thought how much it looked like the ancient battles that took place in the Colosseum, those four truly were living Gladiators.
“Henry,” Elle spoke to him.
Elle looked over to her friends, looking worried she spoke to H
enry, “Come on, we have to secure the door,” she told him softly.
“They’re not going to make it, are they,” Henry remarked. “If anyone can, they can,” she replied as she closed the door, locking them inside.
Jack and the team were fighting hard, more zombies had now arrived, and the noise of the gunfire had attracted them. Frank started to be overrun, as he fired his last bullet he started to use his gun as a mallet instead. He was hitting anything and everything that got close, but the dead’s numbers overpowered him, Frank fell backwards to the ground. As Frank screamed out, Jack swung round to look for him. Jack was covered in splatters of the dead’s blood; his face had spots of blood all over.
He looked in the direction of Bray and Zoe, “THEY MADE IT INSIDE, NOW FUCKING RUN!” he shouted to them. Bray and Zoe started to move. Jack ran to Frank’s location; a massive fat dead woman was trying to bite Frank. Jack ran up kicked her in the head, she rolled to the ground. Jack held out his hand to help Frank up, when a Zombie grabbed his leg, the Zombie almost had its teeth sunk into Jack’s leg, when Frank thrust his knife into its head, it dropped to the ground, Jack was free, he helped Frank to his feet, when the fat dead woman was back to her feet, she reached out to them both, Jack ducked down and swung his machete, slicing her stomach open, her intestines spilled out splashing over the ground. Frank punched the decaying woman in the head, as she fell backwards Frank stamped on her head. Jack grabbed Franks arm, “MOVE!” He shouted and they both ran in the same direction as Bray and Zoe.
CHAPTER NINE
DOCTOR GRANT
The Zombie army was once again hitting against the reinforced windows of the MI6 building; Elle tried her best to calm the group. Henry was helping as much as he could, “We’re safe in here,” he told everyone, but everyone continued to panic.
“Where is the rescue, you promised us,” Ryan spoke; he was making the group worse.
“Get us out of here now!” Ryan demanded.
Elle concerned for her friends was losing her patients. “We need to wait here for the others,” Henry told Ryan.
“THEY’RE DEAD, THEY HAVE BEEN EATEN, LOOK THE ZOMBIES ARE BACK OUTSIDE THE WINDOWS!” Ryan shouted without consideration of what he was saying.
Elle looked at him in anger, she moved fast to his position, she punched him in the face in anger, Ryan’s nose once again started to bleed. “SHUT YOUR MOUTH, THEY STAYED OUT THERE TO SAVE YOUR WORTHLESS LIFE!” she screamed at him.
Everyone else went silent; Clare walked over and took Elle’s hand, and looked up to Elle's face covered in concern. “They are OK, I feel it,” Clare reassured her. Elle smiled at her. A noise came from behind them, turning round Elle could see the entrance to the stairs. The door swung open, a tall man walked through, he held up a shotgun, “Don’t anyone move,” he told them. Elle stared at the man while moving Clare behind her to shield her from any danger. The man had an overgrown beard, and his hair was hanging down to his shoulders.
The man stepped forward, “This is my place,” he told everyone. He raised the shotgun higher, looking like he was about to shoot when something cold touched his neck. “This is my place now,” a voice said behind him. Elle’s eyes lit up. She looked at Jack, covered in blood held a gun to the back of the man’s head. Bray stepped through the doorway and relieved the man of this shotgun. “Please, I would not have hurt anyone,” the man told Jack. “Is that why you have a gun pointed at my friends,” Jack replied angrily. “It’s empty, I ran out of ammo a long time ago, I was just scared,” the man told him. Jack looked at Bray, Bray checked the gun, and it was empty. Jack lowered his gun, “Who are you?” Jack asked. “David..., my name is David,” he replied feeling scared. “David Grant, Doctor David Grant,” another voice spoke. Frank emerged from the behind Jack with Zoe close behind, “The door is secure,” she told Jack. Frank stood in front of the man, “Doctor Grant?” he asked. The man looked concerned, “Yes,” he replied softly. Frank smiled, “We’ve come a long way to find you,” Frank replied.
Frank and Doctor Grant spoke alone. Jack, Bray, and Zoe approached the group. Jack noticed Ryan was bleeding again, “You have any trouble?” Jack asked Elle. She glanced at Ryan quickly, “Only from a rat,” she replied. Elle gave out a squeal and cuddled Jack, “I knew you were OK,” she told him with a warm look in her eyes. Clare approached them, “I knew they didn’t stand a chance,” she told him. The group was cheering Bray and Zoe.
“Doctor Grant, we received your message and came here to save you, there are a lot of very happy people waiting to meet you,” Frank told him. Doctor Grant just looked at Frank, “We should get upstairs, away from the windows,” he replied, he walked back towards the stairs and walked up.
Frank looked confused as he went to Jack, “Everything OK,” Jack asked a worried looking Frank. “Not sure, but we should go upstairs and think about clearing a space for the helicopter,” he replied. As Frank started to walk away, he stopped and turned back to Jack, “Actually, Jack can you come with me to speak to Grant,” he asked.
“No problem,” he replied.
“Bray, take everyone up to the top floor. Take a group to the roof and make a clearing for the helicopter. We only have a few hours until it arrives,” Jack told him. He walked to join Frank and they both followed Grant. Bray turned to the group, “OK, you heard him. Let’s go,” he told them and they all began the walk to the top floor.
Jack and Frank followed Doctor Grant, several floors up he walked into a big room, and it was full of computers. At the back of the room, Doctor Grant had turned into his living area, as Jack walked across the room; he was surprised to see Doctor Grant had power in the building. Doctor Grant stood by a table that contained a CB radio.
Frank was anxious to speak to Grant, “We received your message, I have to say it is impressive you have survived here and continue your work,” Frank told him.
Grant slumped down in a chair, “You should not have come here,” he replied.
Jack stepped forward, “We have come to take you to safety,” he told Grant.
“SAFETY THERE IS NO SAFE SAFETY, YOU WASTED YOUR TIME!” Grant shouted in reply. Jack grew angry, “We lost good people getting to you,” he replied through gritted teeth. Grant just stared at the two men in front of him.
Frank glanced at Jack they both looked concerned. “Doctor Grant, is there a problem with the cure?” Frank asked him
. Grant looked at him and suddenly burst out laughing. “CURE, that’s the bullshit they fed you,” Grant replied. Frank looked sick he was in complete shock.
Looking at Jack, Frank noticed how calm he appeared. Frank wanted answers, “Why would they send us here if there is no cure?” Frank asked both Jack and Grant. “Frank, calm down,” Jack said calmly.
He turned his attention to Grant, “Sending us here just for you, after millions were left to die, makes no sense. So you better start talking,” Jack told him.
“What makes you think I know?” Grant replied. Jack stepped closer, “TALK!” he demanded. Grant looked into Jack’s eyes, “Just kill me, that’s the real reason you’re here,” Grant replied.
Jack stood silent, looking Grant straight in the eyes. Grant started to sweat, “You really have no idea, do you?” Grant asked.
“We didn’t even know about the zombies, until they started eating my friends,” Jack told him. “If I tell you, your life is over,” Grant replied. Frank walked to stand next to Jack, “Talk” Frank demanded
. Grant still sitting on his chair started to talk,“The virus, it was not a terrorist attack, it was a weapons test,”he told them. Both Jack and Frank stood in silence as Grant continued,“I worked for a private company developing weapons for the military. We created a virus, it was a just a simple flu strain, but it could disable an entire enemy force for days. Imagine a war where no guns are needed, no bullets fired.”Grant stopped for a moment; he picked up a bottle of water and took a long drink. He then continued,“Due to all the problems around the world and increase of terror
ist activity, we could not chance testing the weapon abroad. Therefore, military and government officials decided to test it on a small area of Britain. It was deployed in a missile and sent over the skies of the South of England. God, the first few hours it worked, as it should. We prepared the vaccine, when we got word of people being attacked by the dead. The fucking virus mutated. It spread so quickly, we could not control it. WE KILLED MILLIONS,” Grant told them with shame in his eyes. “What!” Frank spoke out. Jack stood his ground. Frank started to shake; he looked like he would pass out when suddenly he pulled his sidearm and pointed it at Grant. Grant sat there waiting for it to come. Jack grabbed the gun from Frank, “No, we need more answers,” Jack told him calmly.
“WHY, why would they send us here for him,” Frank asked Jack in anger. Jack stayed silent for a moment, then a memory from the mission briefing it him.
“The message,” Jack whispered. Frank looked at him confused. “The message, what was in the message you transmitted?” Jack asked. Grant looked up, “Everything,” Grant replied.
For the first time Jack looked scared, “Shit,” he whispered under his breath. Frank still confused needed answers, “Jack, tell me, please,” he asked.
Jack looked at Frank, “They picked up the message, and blocked it. So no one else could hear it, but they couldn’t do that forever, so they send us in,” he replied. “What is the point of sending us here, he can’t escape,” Frank replied, still looking for answers. “If the world found out, that a weapon was tested by us, on British soil against British citizens, it could lead to another war,” Jack told him. He walked away for a moment, “We’re screwed, as soon as we get back we will be thrown in isolation and left, telling everyone we are infected,” Jack told Frank.
At that moment it hit Frank, this was only ever going to be a one-way mission. “They sent us to hell to stop a radio signal,” Frank spoke.
“Keep the secret, it’s all about covering their backsides,” Jack replied. “You can kill him now,” Jack continued. Before Frank could reply a gunshot echoed out, Grant had another gun and had shot himself in the head.